RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR)–It’s called the oldest farmer’s market in the nation, and as the surrounding area of the 17th Street Farmers’ Market evolves, the City of Richmond would like input from residents and businesses as to how the new public space will look and function.
There will be two community workshops to collect such input, one at night and one in the day.
The first is Tuesday, October 1 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and the second on Wednesday, October 2 from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
The meetings will take place on the second floor of Main Street Station, 1500 East Main Street.
The city announced these workshops and said they are part of the effort started by the city in 2010. when the Department of Economic and Community Development worked with the community and Shockoe stakeholders to develop a revitalization strategy for the area.
“The community desired a more open urban space at the public market that would serve the vendors on market days, continue to serve large events, but also support a wider range of community and family-oriented programming,” said the city, in a press release.
Mayor Dwight C. Jones has included funding in his budget to re-position the property to more fully serve the community as a public square and gathering place.
City funding will also provide for the burying of overhead utilities along the four sides of the market square.
Space at the community workshops is limited to 200 individuals each, and attendees are asked to RSVP to Jeannie Welliver at jeannie.welliver@richmondgov.com or call (804) 646-7322 by September 26, 2013.
The meetings are redundant, so attendees should select either the October 1 evening meeting or the October 2 morning meeting.
The selected community engagement consultant, Project for Public Spaces, will lead both community workshops.
Free Parking for the community workshops will be available in the lot west of Main Street Station, which can be accessed from either 15th Street or East Franklin Street.
Parking assistants will be onsite to assist attendees.
